Identification badge



Feb. 15, 1944. H. .1; HANSON IDENTIFICATION BADGE Filed Sept 15, 1940 ikz/ ewr:

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Patented Feb. 15, 1944 IDENTIFICATION BADGE Henry J. Hanson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The C. H. Hanson Company,

ration of Illinois Chicago, III.,- a corpo- Application September 13, 1940, Serial No. 356,643

3 Claims.

My invention belongs to that general classof devices known as badges or the like, and relates more especially to a badge particularly adapted to positively identify the wearer or holder of the badge and in which substitution of the original identifying material within the badge is practically impossible, but if made may be read,- ily detected.

The invention has amongits objects the production of a badge of the kind described which is simple, compact, inexpensive, attractive, reliable, efiicient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable.

More particularly the invention has as an object the production of an identifying badge for use in establishments where there are many employees, and for the purpose of identifying the individual employees, and where it is not only necessary to readily identify the employee in the shortest possible time and with the positive assurance that the employee is identified, but to so provide identifying means that the same cannot be readily tampered with and substitution made without such tampering or substitution being obvious to the one making the identification.

The invention has among its further objects the production of an identifying badge of the kind described which may be readily identified as an official or authorized badge of the organization, which not only identifies the holder by embodying a photograph in the same, but gives his payroll number or the like and may be so constructed as to identify his particular department and even a subdivision of the department, and

also disclose at the time of identification of the holder and by the same inspection that thebadge has not been tampered with or a substitute photograph inserted since delivery to the employee to be identified.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the dis closure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a face view in elevation of my improved badge;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 isv a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in which only one embodiment of my invention is shown, reference character I designates the badge as a whole and 2 a picture, for example, of the holder ofthe badge I required to be identified as an authorized holder or wearer of the badge. The badge consists of a frame preferably made up of a front plate 3 and a back plate 4, one of the plates, as shown the front plate, having its edges at one end and the sides turned over as indicated at 5 and 6 to engage the back plate 5 and retain the parts in assembled relation prior to the sealing of the same. The front plate 3 is provided with an aperture 1 of the desired size and shape, while the back plate 4 is provided with means for securing the same to the wearer or holder of the badge. As shown, apin B in the form of a safety pin is secured to the back in any suitable man ner, as shown by means of soldering or the like, and if desired with a reinforcing plate 5. Both plates are generally rectangular in shape and each is formed with a rivet receiving extension at the end opposite the flanged end and disposed beyond the side flanges. w

The picture of the holder 2 may be a photograph, as indicated at 2, in front of which is arranged a protecting cover or sheet I I of Celluloid, isinglass, glass or any other suitable transparent material, so that the picture may be readily seen, and the wearer identified as an authorizedwearer by merely a glance at the picture. As illustrated, the picture is somewhat shorter than the length of the space and behind the same may be arranged a sheet E3 of some particular color or combination of colors for the purpose of indicating a particular department, division, shop or the like. The holder or frame is initially made of such size and so constructed that the back 4 may be removed to permit the insertion of the transparent sheet H, the picture I2 and the identifying sheet I3, and the re-applying of the back 4. 1

The back 4 and the front plate 3 are shown locked together or sealed by a seal 15 which projects through registering apertures in the rivet receiving extensions of the plates, preferably from back to front and the end I6 upset so as to form a head l6. This seal is preferably of some ductile material which may be compressed by a suitable press, substantially permanently securing the frame members together with the identifying material sealed in the frame. To indicate an authorized seal, a suitable design or monotaken substantially gram or name may be formed on the head of the seal at the front face when the same is upset. It may be mentioned that it is preferred to make the head l at the back of such size that it will project slightly beyond or above the front face plate 3 as indicated at l5, so that it is not readily possible to remove the ductile seal from the back side and then reseal it.

In addition to identifying the seal, the face of the badge may have embossed or otherwise formed thereon identifying material, as shown for example, by the numerals i8 or iii to identify the party issuing the badge, and it may likewise have a badge number or its equivalent, indicated at l9. The photograph may also bear an identifying number as indicated at 20 and this may be further identified as a payroll number as indicated at 2|. identification l3 indicating the department or division, the sheet l3 may also have further identification upon it, as for example, as indicated at 23, where the letter A is shown for purposes of illustration as designating a certain department,

it being understood that any character of geometrical design may be used for this purpose, as in many organizations it is desirable not only to indicate a department, but perhaps one or more sub-departments of the main department. Or this same material may be used to identify or designate a particular class of employee, as for example, an office employee, or an engineering employee, a laborer, etc. Likewise, the sheet I3 may be arranged to show different colors. Perhaps more than one color will be displayed, thereby conveying the desired information to one inspecting the badge.

The gateman or an inspecting or other proper oflicial seeing the badge, by even a casual glance or inspection can readily determine that it is an organization badge, that it is worn by one authorized to wear it, and either by name or number can record the wearer. He can likewise determine whether the employee or holder of the badge is in the proper department or in surroundings where he is authorized to be, and he can likewise determine from the inspection that the badge has not been tampered with.

The badge is particularly adapted, as before mentioned, for identifying employees where there are many employees, whether in commercial manufacturing plants, mills, warehouses, Government projects, such as arsenals or navy yards, railroads, or Government, State, municipal or other public organizations. The badge may be made as attractive and ornamental as desired and need not necessarily be made in the exact shape or proportions shown in the drawing. The sealed in photograph may bear the signature of the holder or of the company official, or other marks.

In addition to applying the seal after the identifying material is inserted in the frame, the flanges 6 may be pressed down, additionally clamping or securing the contents. After the same has been once assembled and sealed, the badge is to all intents and purposes a permanent dependable identification and cannot be altered or tampered with without showing such tampering.

Having thus described my invention, it is ob-' vious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses men- 1 1 J tioned.

In addition to the supplemental What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a badge of the kind described and in combination, a frame consisting of an apertured front plate and a back plate spaced apart to provide a receptacle for identifying material, a sealing member of ductile material for sealing a contained material within the frame, said frame members provided with aligned apertures through the same, said sealing member consisting of a ductile rivet member extended through said aligned apertures and upset at the ends, the end at the front plate provided with identifying characters and the end at the back plate of a size to project beyond the end of both plates, whereby the absence of tampering with the sealing is indicated.

2. In a badge of the kind described and in combination, a frame consisting of an apertured front plate and a back plate initially separably secured together and spaced apart to provide a recep tacle for receiving identifying material, a sealing member of ductile material for sealing material contained within the frame, said frame members provided with aligned openings through the same, said sealing member consisting of a ductile rivet member extended through said aligned openings and upset at the ends, the end of the member at the front plate adapted to receive identifying characters and the end-at the back plate of a size to project beyond the end of both plates, whereby after sealing subsequent tampering with the sealing may be readily detected.

3. In abadge of the kind described and in com bination a frame consisting of a back plate, and a front plate providing a window opening, said plates being generally rectangular inshape and both being formed with rivet receiving extensions containing registering apertures, the edges of one plate other than the rivet receiving extension each having flanges within which the otherplate fits in spaced relation to provide a receptacle for identifying indicia, a sheet of transparent material positioned within the receptacle adapted as a cover for said indicia, a rivet extending through said apertures and adapted to draw said rivet receiving extension together and fasten said plates against relative movement, said rivet having different size heads both being visible from the front of said badge, and the front end of said rivet providing permanent identifying indicia complemental to the indicia contained in the frame.

HENRY J. HANSON. 

